James A. Soule Charged In Alexis Wright Prostitution Case

Former South Portland Mayor James A. Soule is among those charged with paying a Zumba instructor, Alexis Wright, for sex.

James Soule, 58, is the best-known figure among the 21 men charged so far with engaging a prostitute in the case against Alexis Wright of Wells and her alleged business partner, Mark Strong Sr. of Thomaston.

James A. Soule

"There are people that know Jim well and won't judge him badly," said Soule's attorney, Peter DeTroy. "There will be people who don't know him well and may judge him badly."

James Soule was South Portland's mayor - a largely ceremonial post in which city councilors take turns serving -- most recently in 2008. He also served in 1990-91 and 1992-93.

James Soule, who comes from a prominent Portland family, has appeared often in television advertisements for his business, A-Best Windows.

He could not be reached on Tuesday.

James Soule was first elected to the council in 1988 and served for several years. After a hiatus, he was elected in 2006 and served until 2009.

James Soule made national news with his inaugural speech as mayor in 2007, when he said southern Maine should secede from the rest of the state.

James Soule is a member of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. He led Morse High School in Bath to three state football championships before graduating in 1972 and setting rushing records at Bowdoin College.

He was a teacher at Westbrook High School from 1978 to 1979. He is married and has three children.

The highly anticipated list of names of those charged by Kennebunk police has been the subject of national attention in a case that has roiled the town.

DeTroy said the case against James Soule has been blown out of proportion.

"I have never in 40 years seen so much ado about so little, but that's more ... a function of the times we live in than anything else," DeTroy said. "It's a Class E misdemeanor, which never generates any jail time. It's a fine."

Kennebunk's Alexis Wright Prostitution Case's Johns List

Kennebunk Police Department releases a list of individuals charged in Alexis Wright prostitution case

Late Tuesday afternoon, via a telephonic conference call with counsel for the interested parties in the civil action seeking a protective order to keep confidential the names of the “johns” in the Alexis Wright prostitution case, Maine Superior Court (Cumberland County) Justice Thomas Warren has revised his October 15, 2012, Order, which had limited the public disclosure to names only of the first group of defendants, to allow the Police Department to disclose also the home addresses and ages of the defendants.

Alexis Wright of Pura Vida Studio.  Source: Pura Vida Studio, Kennebunk

 As a result, the Police Department has now amended its disclosures as shown below.
Please also note that the criminal charge issued against those listed below is Engaging a Prostitute, a Class E crime under Maine law, as provided in Title 17A MRSA §853-B. All those issued a summons to date are scheduled to appear in Maine Tenth District Court in Biddeford on December 5, 2012, at 1pm.

The following have been charged:

• Gary D. Bahlkow, 57, of 15 Lawrence Road, North Yarmouth, ME
• Jens W. Bergen, 54, of 79 Portland Road, Kennebunk, ME
• Norman P. Crepeau Jr., 46, of 2 Channel Cove Lane, Biddeford, ME
• Joseph P. Cuetara, 63, of 10 Commercial Wharf, Suite 511, Boston, MA
• Kenneth A. Fairbanks, 54, of 177 Ridge Road, Lisbon Falls, ME
• Donald F. Hill, 52, of 139 Union Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, ME
• Monie B. Hobbs Jr., 43, of 11 Aaron's Way, North Berwick, ME
• David Kline, 51, of 870 Central Road, Rye Beach, NH
• Robert R. Labonte, 61, of 8 New County Road, Saco, ME
• Dale P. Madore, 34, of 242 West Pownal Road, North Yarmouth, ME
• Paul A. Main, 43, of 153 South Street, Biddeford, ME
• Harry J. McMann, 55, of 76 Morning Street, Portland, ME
• Kevin L. Pagliccia, 39, 200 Frost Road, Lyman, ME
• Claude S. Palmer Jr., 47, of 117 Pottle Road, Oxford, ME
• Philip K. Parker, 65, of 125 Ross Road, Kennebunk, ME
• Colin P. Powers, 39, of 4 Ramsay Terrace, Scarborough, ME
• Clinton J. Ray, 42, of 150 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME
• James A. Soule, 58, of 23 Whitworth Drive, South Portland, ME*
  9077 Shadow Glen Way, Ft. Myers, FL
• John D. Verreault, 50, of 1 Seafields Lane, Saco, ME
• James P. White, 38, of 50 Lord Road, Buxton, ME
• Peter M. Wormell Sr., 61, of 200 Brook Street, Westbrook, ME

*UPDATE 10/17/12: The Kennebunk Police Department's most recent press release listed the incorrect address for James A. Soule, 58. That was Mr. James A. Soule's previous address. His current address should have been listed as 9077 Shadow Glen Way, Ft. Myers, FL. The current residents of the South Portland residence respectfully request media personnel refrain from contacting them or arriving at that residence for further news coverage regarding James A. Soule.

Source: Kennebunk Police Department